Pot-light fixture



pril 25, i9? T. B. TOTTEN 3,3699

POT-LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THOMASB. TD1-TEM ATTORNEY5 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. B. TOTTEN POTL1GHT FIXTUREINVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967 Filed Jan. 29 1962 THOMAS BTOTTEN pri25, 3967 T. B. TOTTEN 3,316,399

POT-LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill g 5J INVENTORTHQMAS BTOTTEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofice Canada Filed Jan.29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,544 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) The invention relatesto recessed reflector lighting fixtures generally referred to aspot-light fixtures and more particularly to an adjustable pot-lightfixture. The invention further relates to various trims for use with theabove and means for fastening the trims to the fixture and to means formounting a fixture.

Numerous types of pot-lights are well known, however, they generallyconsist of a fixed housing designed for a particular size light source.It is thus readily apparent that numerous different such fixtures arerequired to fill a wide variety of different lighting applications. Inpreviously known adjustable fixtures, adjustment of the lamp positionconsisted of moving a socket plate within a single cylindrical housing.The present development permits the entire top portion of the housing totelescope into the lower portion of the housing thus reducing theoverall recessing depth with the lowering of the lamp. This is animportant feature since permissible recess depth in modern officebuildings is generally quite critical.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provideone basic type of pot-light fixture which can be used with various lampsizes and shapes.

A further object is to provide a versatile recessed light fixture whichwill replace, with one basic fixture, a large number of separatefixtures of different lamp sizes and wattages formerly manufactured, andthus to avoid costly duplicate stocking and provide an extremelyfiexible tool for the lighting designer.

A further object is to provide a fixture housing which will accommodatea large number of diiierent trim types which also may be interchanged atwill any time in the life of the installation.

A still further object is to provide a plaster frame for optional usewith recessed lighting fixtures.

A still further object is to provide a recessed pot-light fixture trimwhereby the trim may be removed without disturbing the fixture.

The above objects are attained and disadvantages overcome by the presentinvention.

Accordingly the present invention consists of a potlight fixturecomprising inner and outer telescopic cylinders adapted to slide withinpredetermined limits, means to adjustably secure together said cylindersin selected positions and means adapted to mount a light source in saidinner cylinder, a portion of each cylinder being open so as to permitlight from said source to emit from said xture.

A further feature of the present invention consists of plaster framecomprising a plate having a central aperture therein of greater diameterthan the outer cylinder of said lamp, a fiange surrounding said apertureadjacent the edge thereof and a plurality of resiliently biased memberssecured to said plate and projecting inwardly into said aperture.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a pot-light fixture constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but in part section illustrating thehousing locking means and plaster mounting frame;

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a fixture illustrating amodied mounting means and trim assembly;

3,3 i6,3 99 Patented Apr. 25, l 967 FIG. 3A is a partial sectional viewillustrating a recessed fixture secured within an aperture in aplastered wall;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional elevational view of the innercylinder of the fixture having the outlet box omitted therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank prior to being formed into the outercylinder;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the fixture and plaster framecooperating resilient securing means;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in part, a closed trim; and

FIG. 9 illustrates, in part, an open trim.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in FIG- URE l is apot-light fixture 10 consisting of an outer cylinder 11, an innercylinder 12 and an outlet box 13, detachably secured to the upper end ofthe inner cylinder.

The outer cylinder includes opposed opened ends and may |be formed froma fiat blank 11a shown in FIGURE 6. The blank 11a may be stamped, cut orotherwise formed from a piece of sheet metal and includes a pair ofparallel longitudinal edges 15, 16 and a pair of parallel opposite endedges 17, 18. A pair of spaced semicircular notches 19 and 20 are formedin the edge 15 to receive electrical cables leading to the outlet box aswill become apparent hereinafter. Adjacent the opposite edge 16 andspaced inwardly therefrom are three equally spaced rectangular apertures21, 22 and 23 adapted to receive spring clips of a plaster securingframe. It will be seen that the apertures, in the formed outer cylinder,are located at to one another. It is obvious that more or less aperturesmay be provided if desired, however, three securing clips is all that isgenerally necessary to mount the fixture securely and straight.

A pair of spaced apertures 24 and 25, located inwardly of the edges 15,16, 17 and 18, are provided for the purpose, as will be seen later, ofsecuring alternate trims t0 the fixture.

A pair of extruded taps 26 and 27 at -a spacing of half the length ofthe blank are provided adjacent the lower edge 16 for the purpose oflocating latch brackets when welding the blank to form the cylinder. Thedotted line 28 indicates the amount of overlap to allow for spot weldingtogether the ends 17 and 18 to provide the closed cylinder. Obviously abutt joint" may also jbe provided, if desired, but spot welding suchjoint is more difiicult. The blank is also provided with an aperture 29adapted to receive a bolt 30, which as seen in FIGURE 2, extends througha slot 36 in the inner cylinder.

The inner cylinder includes an open lower end and a closed upper end 32.The end 32 includes a central aperture 33 and a pair of spaced slotedapertures 34, 35 for mounting the outlet box directly over the aperture33. There is an axial lonigtudinal slot 36 in the wall of the cylinderand the slot extends to near proximity of the upper and lower edges ofthe cylinder. The slot 36 includes transverse extending portions 37, 38and 39 located at predetermined spaced intervals from the lower edge ofthe cylinder. In an actual fixture constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, in a 52%2 outside diameter, 3% deep, inner cylinder,a 2% slot was positioned 1A from the lower edge of the cylinder. As seenin FIG. 4, the portion 37 is located adjacent the lower edge of thecylinder and in the actual sample the portions 38 and 39 were spacedrespectively 15/32 and 111/16 therefrom. The inner cylinder may be drawnfrom 22 gauge steel or other suitable material.

The outlet box 13 of conventional construction, having a plurality ofknockouts 40, is detachably secured by screws 41 to the upper end 32.

The inner and outer cyl-inders are telescopically mounted -members 62may be fastened to the apertured lugs and are axially adjustable andadapted to be fixed at various positions by means of tightening a wingnut 42 onto the bolt 30. The bolt is fixed by the aperture 29, in theouter cylinder, and slides in the slot 36 in the inner cylinder. Theportions 37, 38 and 39 of the slot as wellias the upper end of the slotprovides four locking positions of one cylinder with respect to theother. The various positions respectively adapt the one fixture to befitted with various sized lamps.

The fixture may be mounted by various means. In the preferred mounting,a plaster frame-.50 is provided consisting of asubstantially squaresheet member 51 having acentral aperture 52 defined vby an outwardlydirected ange 53. Three spring clips 54, spaced at positions equal tothespacing of the apertures 21, 22 and 23, are secured to the plaster frameand project inwardly of the central aperture thereby adapted to be urgedagainst the outer cylinder of the fixture and thus secure the fixture tothe plaster frame. The plaster frame may be mounted in a ceilingaperture as by nailing through the frame and/ or mounting bars 55 intothe plaster receiving base.

The spring clips 54 consist of an L-shaped member having leg portions 56and 57 bearing respectively against the face of the plaster frame andthe face of the flange 53. The leg portion 56 is secured to the frame bypassing underneath a tab 58 struck upwardly from the face of the frame.The other leg 57 terminates in an upwardly outwardly directed portion 59and an inwardly directed bight portion 60. The mounting of the fixturewith respect to the frame is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 7. It will bereadily apparent that such mounting permits readily removing the entirefixture, if desired, by inserting a strap iron or other fiat objectbetween the clip portion S9 and the outer surface of the outercyl-inder.

In the event a plaster frame, as hereinbefore described, is not used formounting the fixture, the lower edge of the outer cylinder maybeprovided with a pair of outwardly directed apertured lugs 61. In theevent such lugs arev present when using a plaster frame, they may bearagainst the outer edge of the flange of the plaster frame.

A plurality of integrally formed upwardly directed latch 61 for thepurpose of detachably fastening various trims to the fixture. Themembers 62 include an upper slotted flange 63 into which resilient clipsmay readily slide.

FIGURE 3 illustrates mounting of the fixture in a wooden wall 64 andFIGURE 3A illustrates mounting the recessed lighting fixture within anaperture in a plastered wall 63. The mounting on the plaster consists ofa mounting frame 65 having a fiange bearing upon the upper surface ofthe plaster and including a downwardly projecting portion 66. Aplurality of upwardly directed latch members 67 are secured to the outercylinder. The outer cylinder bears against resilient clips secured tothe mounting frame as was previously described with respect to FIG- URE7. The latch member 67 extends into the inner portion of the fixture andis offsetinwardly at 68 to provide a space between the outer cylinderand the latch member for the inner cylinder to slide. An annular gasket69 bears against the undersurface of the plaster wall and is held inplace by an annular trim piece 70 secured as by resilient clips 71extending into slots into the latch member 67. The retained trimsuspends therefrom a drop lens 72 or other suitable lens or diffuser.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the mounting in the wooden wall isaccomplished by securing a plurality of latch members 73 to the lowerface of the wall. Such members are similar to the previously describedmembers 67. The members 73 extend into the fixture and include a slotfor retaining resilient clips therein. The members 73 are spaced fromthe wall and the lower edge of the outer cylinder rests upon a portionof the member thus supporting the fixture.

In FIGURE 8 is illustrated a closed trim 80 consisting of a-l faceportion 81, an upwardly directed fiange 82 and a resilient securing clip83. The clips S3 are adapted to slide into the slots of the latchmembers 62, 67 and 73 and by virtue of a shoulder 84 are retainedtherein thus securing the trim.

Alternatively a trim may be secured by a spring 85, shown in FIGURE 9,secured at one end to a flange 86 of a trim and secured at the other endin the aperture 24 or 25 in the outer cylinder. It will be noted thatthe spring will lie on the outside of the cylinder and thus does notinterfere with the telescopic movement of the cylindersA From theforegoing it may be seen that a recessed xture has been providedconsisting ofY a pair of telescopic bodies adapted to be fixed atvarious positions thus accommodating various sizes of lamps. Alsoprovided is a mounting fixture permitting ready removal of the entireassembly if desired.

The fixture may be secured'in a suitable opening as hereinbeforedescribed and connected to the electrical system by the standard outletbox. The inner cylinder may be secured at one of the four describedfixed positions depending upon its desired use. It is readily apparentthat the thus telescoped inner and outer cylinders vary the overalldepth of the unit such that -it may be used in restricted depthopenings.

I claim:

1. A recessed lighting fixture comprising an openended shell memberhaving an outwardly extending peripheral fiange at one end thereon, asecond shell member having a closed top and an open bottom intelescoping slidable engagement with the open-ended shell member, lampmeans downwardly projecting from the closed top within the interior ofsaid second shell member, means to mount the open-ended shell memberwithin a ceiling, face trim means resiliently coupled to said open-endedshell member and masking the lower periphery thereof, and means to locksaid shell members together so that the spacing of said lamp means fromthe flange of the open-ended shell is adjustable whereby the overalldepth of the fixture can be varied.

2. A fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable locking meanscomprises an axial slot in the open-ended member, said slot havingtransverse notch portions at a plurality of predetermined locations anda pin projecting from the second member and adapted to slide into saidnotches.

3. A fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient coupling meansfor the face trim comprises clip members secured to said face trim andprojecting into the lower periphery of the open-ended shell member.

4. A recessed lighting fixture comprising an open-ended cylindricalshell member having an outwardly extending peripheral Iflange at one endthereon, a second cylindrical shell member having a closed top and anopen bottom in telescoping slidable engagement with the open-ended shellmember, lamp means including an outlet box downwardly projecting fromthe closed top within the interior of said second shell member, means tomount the opened-ended shell member within a ceiling, face trim meansresiliently coupled to said open-ended shell member and masking thelower periphery thereof, and means to lock said shell members togetherso that the spacing of said lamp means from the flange of the open-endedshell is adjustable whereby the overall depth of the fixture can bevaried, the axial length of open-ended cylindrical member being greaterthan that of the second cylindrical member whereby said outlet box ispartially confined within the openended member when the fixture is infully retracted position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,632 1/1904Fisher. 932,834 8/1909 Torrey 24U-78 1,519,071 l2/l924 Spencer 24U- 78(ther references on following page)- 6 OTHER REFERENCES 12/ 1952 Harmon220-8 Omega Light-ing Inc. publication, Model H843, pub- 4/1956Schockett 240-78 lished in 1960, 2 pages. 8/ 19611 Chan 240%78 FOREIGNPATENTS 5 NORTON ANSHER, Primmy Examiner.

C. P. CHANDLER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING AN OPENENDED SHELL MEMBERHAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE AT ONE END THEREON, ASECOND SHELL MEMBER HAVING A CLOSED TOP AND AN OPEN BOTTOM INTELESCOPING SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL MEMBER, LAMPMEANS DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING FROM THE CLOSED TOP WITHIN THE INTERIOR OFSAID SECOND SHELL MEMBER, MEANS TO MOUNT THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL MEMBERWITHIN A CEILING, FACE TRIM MEANS RESILIENTLY COUPLED TO SAID OPEN-ENDEDSHELL MEMBER AND MASKING THE LOWER PERIPHERY THEREOF, AND MEANS TO LOCKSAID SHELL MEMBERS TOGETHER SO THAT THE SPACING OF SAID LAMP MEANS FROMTHE FLANGE OF THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL IS ADJUSTABLE WHEREBY THE OVERALLDEPTH OF THE FIXTURE CAN BE VARIED.